Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Nutraceutical Man_gosteen Composition
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to nutraceutical compositions derived from
the fruit of the Garcinia nzangostafaa L. plant, otherwise known as the
mangosteen plant. More particularly, the present invention relates to
nutraceutical compositions comprising a mixture of the pulp and pericarp of
the
mangosteen fruit.
2. Background and Related Art
The mangosteen tree (Gaf-cinia naangostana L.) was named after the
French explorer Laurent Garcin (1683-1751) and has been cultivated for a
considerable time in tropical areas of the world. The tree is presumed to have
originated in South-east Asia or Indonesia and has largely remained indigenous
to
the Malay Peninsula, Myamnar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Sunda
Islands, and the Moluccas. Although the mangosteen fruit is highly praised as
one of the best tasting of all tropical fruits, it is considered a minor
tropical fruit,
and the mangosteen tree has largely piqued purely botanical interests over the
years.
The mangosteen tree is a slow-growing, smooth evergreen tree that ranges
from 5 to 25 meters in height with a flaking black bark that contains a
yellow,
resinous latex. The mangosteen tree bears fruit when 6 to 20 years old,
depending on location, and can continue to yield fruit for up to 100 years.
The
mangosteen fruit ripens to a dark reddish-violet to black-violet color and is
normally smooth or marked with brownish scars. The pericarp, or rind, of the
mangosteen fruit is thick, tough, and exudes a bitter yellowish resin. Only
about
25 to 30% of the mangosteen fruit consists of the edible pulp or aril, with
the
remainder comprising the tough, bitter pericarp. Each mangosteen fruit usually
varies in weight from 75 to 120 grams and normally contains 2 to 3 well-
developed seeds.
Over the years, the mangosteen plant has been used in a number of
different ways. The timber is used for cabinets, building materials, fencing
and
furniture. The pericarp, containing pectin, tannins, resins and a yellow
latex, is
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used in tanning and dyeing leather black. The fruit pulp is mostly used as a
dessert, but can also be canned or made into preserves. However, when
removing the fruit pulp from the rind, care must be taken to prevent the
tannins
and resins of the cut pericarp from contacting the fruit pulp. The mangosteen
rind, leaves and bark have also been used as ingredients in folk medicine in
areas
where the plant grows indigenously. The thick mangosteen rind is used for
treating catarrh, cystitis, diarrhea, dysentery, eczema, fever, intestinal
ailments,
itch, and skin ailments. The mangosteen leaves are used by some natives in
teas
and other decoctions for diarrhea, dysentery, fever, and thrush. It is also
known
that concoctions of mangosteen bark can be used for genitourinary afflictions
and
stomatosis.
Some of the medicinal properties of the Garci~aia naaragostana L: plant
have been the subj ect of pharmacological and clinical studies. These studies
have
isolated chemical constituents in the mangosteen leaves, wood, pericarp and
seed
aril, which were found to contain the following biologically active compounds,
among others: 1,6-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl) xanthone, 1,5,8-
trihydroxy-3-methoxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl) xanthone, maclurin, 1,3,6,7-
tetrahydroxy xanthone, 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxy xanthone-O-/3-D-glucoside,
chrysanthemin, cyaniding-3-O-(3-D-sophoroside, 8-deoxygartanin, 1,5-
dihydroxy-2-isopentenyl-3-methoxy xanthone, 1,7-dihydroxy-2-isopentenyl-3-
methoxy xanthone, 5,9-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-7-(3-methylbut-2-
enyl)-2(H), 6(H)-pyrano-(3,2,6)-xanthen-6-one, fructose, garcinone A,B,C, D
and
E, gartanin, glucose, cis-hex-3-enyl acetate, 3-isomangostin, 3-isomangostin
hydrate, 1-isomangostin, 1-isomangostin hydrate, kolanone, mangostin, (3-
mangostin, a-mangostin, mangostin-3,6-di-O-gulcoside, normangostin, sucrose,
tannins, BR-xanthone-A, BR-xanthone-B, calabaxanthone
demethylcalabaxanthone,2-(y,y-dimethylallyl)-1,7-dihydroxy-3-
methoxyxanthone, 2,8-bis-(y,y-dimethylallyl)-1,3,7-trihydroxyxanthone, 1,3,5,8-
tetrahydroxy-2,4-diprenylxanthone, and mangostanol. Many of these chemical
constituents are xanthones, which are biologically active compounds that are
receiving increasing interest in pharmacological studies for a variety of
health
benefits.
However, despite the pharmacological benefits of individual xanthone
compounds and the native medicinal uses of the baxk, leaves and rind of the
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mangosteen plant in South-east Asia and Indonesia, a nutraceutical composition
containing the holistic benefits of the entire mangosteen fruit, including the
fruit
pulp and pericarp, is not known. Tn fact, it is recognized that when preparing
the
fruit pulp for consumption, care should be taken to separate from the
delicious
inner fruit pulp the outer pericarp with its resins and tannins, which are
traditionally used to treat and stain leathers.
There exists a need in the nutritional arts for a nutraceutical composition
that offers the health benefits of the entire mangosteen fruit, including the
pulp
and the pericarp. There also exists a need for a nutraceutical composition
rich in
natural xanthones for treating a variety of human ailments and conditions in
an
efficacious manner. Further, there is a need in the art for a natural xanthone
product that is economical to manufacture.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to nutraceutical compositions derived from
the fruit of the Garcinia znangostazza L., or mangosteen plant. More
particularly,
the present invention relates to efficacious nutraceutical compositions rich
in
natural xanthones that include the pulp and the pericarp of the mangosteen
fruit.
These compositions preferably comprise a mixture of mangosteen fruit pulp and
pericarp with selected juice concentrates. In addition, the present invention
relates to methods of preparing nutraceutical compositions of
Gaz°cizzia
mangostana L. plant that yield efficacious health supplements rich in natural
xanthones. Further, the methods of preparing the mangosteen nutraceutical
compositions are economical to operate.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a nutraceutical
composition that contributes to general human wellness and good health through
a novel mixture of the pericarp and pulp of the fruit of the Garcinia
znangostana
L. plant. The effectiveness of this mixture is heightened through the addition
of
selected juice concentrates in varying amounts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a nutraceutical
composition that offers the holistic benefits of the entire mangosteen fruit
and is
an efficacious source of natural xanthone compounds.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an
antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory composition containing a therapeutic
amount of natural xanthones derived from the Garcinia nzan.gostana L. plant.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a xanthone-rich
natural product with antioxidative properties.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a nutraceutical
composition of the Garcinia mazzgostana L. plant with beneficial antibacterial
action.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a process for
preparing nutraceutical compositions of the Gaz-cinia znangostana L. plant
yielding the holistic benefits of the unique combination of mangosteen fruit
pulp
and pericarp, either alone or with complementary and enhancing juice
concentrates.
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Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an economical
process for manufacturing nutraceutical compositions of the entire fruit of
the
Garcinia mangostana L. plant.
The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features
will become apparent from the following description of certain illustrative
embodiments of the invention.
While the methods and processes of the present invention have proven to
be particularly useful in the area of nutritional health supplements, those
skilled
in the art can appreciate that the methods and processes can be used in a
variety
of different applications and in a variety of different areas of manufacture
to
satisfy a wide-ranging variety of pharmaceutical and medicinal needs.
The above-described features and advantages of the present invention, as
well as additional features and advantages, will be set forth or will become
more
fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The
novel features which are considered characteristic of this invention are set
forth in
the attached claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention
may be learned by the practice of the invention, or will be obvious to one
skilled
in the art from the description, as set forth hereinafter.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to nutraceutical compositions derived from
the Gaf°ciiaia nzaiagostarra L. plant, otherwise known as the
mangosteen plant. In
particular, the compositions of the invention described herein uniquely
provide
natural xanthone compounds through the combination of the pulp and pericarp of
the mangosteen fruit, along with selected juice and other phytochemical
ingredients. The invention also relates to processes for manufacturing the
nutraceutical compositions described herein in an economical manner.
It is understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of
describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope
of
the present invention. It is also understood that, as used herein and in the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural
reference,
unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the disclosure and in the
claims,
the term "nutraceutical" shall refer to "any compounds or chemicals that can
provide dietary or health benefits when consumed by humans or animals."
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein
have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, compositions, and
materials of the present invention are described herein, although any methods
and
materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can by used in the
practice or testing of the present invention. All references cited herein are
incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The GaYCilZia f~zafagostaiaa L. plant, or mangosteen plant, is known for a
variety of uses in the areas to which it is indigenous. For example, there are
a
number of folk medicines in South-east Asia and Indonesia that employ various
decoctions of the leaves, root, and bark of the mangosteen plant, as well as
of the
pericarp of the mangosteen fruit. For example, according to the literature,
the
thick mangosteen pericarp can be used as an astringent or in various
decoctions
for treating catarrh, cystitis, diarrhea, dysentery, eczema, fever, intestinal
ailments, itch, and skin ailments. Other medicinal uses of the leaves, root
and
bark would be known to one of skill in the art. Also, the outer pericarp of
the
mangosteen fruit, which contains pectins, tannins, resins and a yellow latex,
is
used for treating and staining leather black.
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In contrast to the thick outer pericarp, the edible inner pulp of the
mangosteen fruit is widely regarded for its exquisite taste. The inner pulp of
a
single mangosteen fruit usually consists of four to eight juicy, white-colored
segments. When preparing the white pulp segments for consumption, care must
be taken so as to not stain the pulp segments with the resins and tannins and
other
matter that oozes out of the cut outer pericarp. The need to keep the
delicious
white pulp separate from the dark purple, staining, bitter pericarp has long
been
known to those familiar with the mangosteen fruit.
Xanthones are biologically active plant phenols that naturally occur in a
restricted group of plants. The general structure of a xanthone is:
s i
7 2
6 3
5 ~ 4
From a biosynthetic standpoint, they are related to the flavonoids, being
formed
by the condensation of a phenylpropanoid precursor with two instead of three
malonyl coenzyme A units. Xanthones possess significant pharmacological
properties, including antidepressant, antitubercular, antimicrobial,
antiviral, anti-
inflammatory, cardiotonic, antileukaemic, antitumor, antiulcer,
antihepatotoxic,
antiallergenic, and antirhinoviral activities and actions.
Pharmacological and botanical researchers have discovered that the
medicinal properties of the mangosteen pericarp can be attributed to natural
xanthones contained in the rind. The unrelated plant families Gentianaceae and
Gutterferae are largely where naturally occurnng hydroxanthones and their
methyl ethers are found. The Garcinia zzzazzgostana L. plant, which contains a
large number of naturally occurring xanthones, belongs within the Gutterferae
family of plants.
Recent research has shown that the y-mangostin compound, a natural
xanthone found in the Garcinia zzzazzgostana L. plant, inhibits type A and
type B
monoamine oxidases as well as cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin E2 synthesis.
(Nakatani et al., 63 Biochemical Pharmacology 73-79 (2002)). Under normal
conditions in the brain, the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGEZ) are very low or
even undetectable. However, during episodes of tissue inflammation, multiple
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sclerosis, and AIDS-related dementia, PGEZ levels rise, and can affect the
activities of neurons, glial, and endothelial cells. High levels of PGEZ also
affect
microglia/macrophage and lymphocyte functions. It is widely understood that
the
generation of prostaglandins is associated with inflammation, pain and fever.
Cyclooxygenase is the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin production. There
are two isoforms of cyclooxygenase (COX), constitutive (COX-1) and inducible
(COX-2), which is expressed in response to inflammation stimuli. The xanthone
y-mangostin is found to directly inhibit activity of both COX isoforms as well
as
PGEZ synthesis, which makes this xanthone desirable in the treatment of
inflammatory conditions as well as symptoms of fever and pain. The
nutraceutical compositions of the present invention offer therapeutic amounts
of
important xanthones, including y-mangostin, from a natural source to provide
increased health and general wellness in humans.
In the present invention, it has been discovered that a mixture of the
mangosteen pericarp and fruit pulp in a single nutraceutical composition
yields
surprising health benefits. The efficacy of this xanthone-rich mixture of
mangosteen pericarp and pulp is enhanced through the addition of selected
juice
and phytochemical ingredients, which are believed to synergistically react
with
the natural xanthone compounds. In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the
mixture of mangosteen fruit pulp and pericarp is complemented by the addition
of one or more juice concentrates selected from the group consisting of
alfalfa
juice concentrate, apple juice concentrate, apricot juice concentrate, banana
juice
concentrate, blueberry juice concentrate, cantaloupe juice concentrate, carrot
juice concentrate, celery juice concentrate, cherry juice concentrate,
cranberry
juice concentrate, grape juice concentrate, grapefruit juice concentrate,
green
barley juice concentrate, green lettuce juice concentrate, kale juice
concentrate,
kiwi fruit juice concentrate, orange juice concentrate, papaya juice
concentrate,
parsley juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, pear puree, pineapple juice
concentrate, prune juice concentrate, raspberry juice concentrate, spinach
juice
concentrate, strawberry juice concentrate and tomato juice concentrate.
The nutraceutical compositions of the present invention deliver
therapeutic amounts of natural xanthone compounds derived from the
mangosteen fruit pulp and pericarp mixture. In one embodiment of the present
invention, the mixture of mangosteen fruit pulp and pericarp is present in an
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amount ranging from between 3 and 50%, preferably between 5 and 25%, and
most preferably between 10 and 20% of the total weight of mangosteen mixture
and selected juice concentrates. In another embodiment of the invention, the
nutraceutical composition comprising mangosteen fruit pulp and pericarp is
formulated for oral administration. However, the present compositions can be
delivered in any form known in the art, such as tablets, capsules,
dispersions,
solutions, suspensions, transdermal delivery systems, etc. If the mangosteen
pericarp and fruit pulp mixture is complemented with selected juice
concentrates,
then a liquid beverage is a convenient delivery form, but other delivery forms
are
equally efficacious and would simply require the use of powders or other
equivalent forms of the juice concentrates. Tablets or capsule forms of the
present nutraceutical compositions can be prepared and coated by methods
known to those of ordinary skill in the art. When the nutraceutical
compositions
of the present invention are presented in liquid beverage form, the ratio of
water
to mangosteen mixture and selected juice concentrates can be 1:1, preferably
3:1
and most preferably 4:1.
The nutraceutical compositions of the present invention can be produced
through large-scale, economical operations. In one embodiment of the invented
process, whole fruit from the GaYCinia rnangostana L. plant is picked and
transported to a production facility. The fresh fruit can kept at ambient air
temperatures during transportation or it can be frozen, depending on need. The
entire mangosteen fruit, including the fruit pulp and pericarp, is then ground
into
a pulp and pericarp mixture using commercial grinding or mixing equipment.
The resulting mixture of mangosteen fruit pulp and pericarp can then be
further
processed through the addition of one or more of the selected juice
concentrates
listed above. In preferred embodiments of the beverage form of the invention,
the selected juice concentrates and water are then added to the mixture in
accordance with the amounts, ranges and ratios specified above. The liquid
nutraceutical compositions can then be treated, bottled or packaged for
distribution to consumers using a variety of methods known to those of
ordinary
skill in the art, such as pasteurization, flash pasteurization, sterilization,
UHT
sterilization, pressure sealing, freezing, freeze drying, irradiating, etc.
Dehydrated and other forms of the nutraceutical compositions can also be
prepared using standard techniques.
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The effectiveness in improving general health and wellness of the
nutraceutical mangosteen compositions described herein is demonstrated from
the following clinical examples, which are listed for illustrative purposes
only
and are not meant to be limiting instances of therapeutic use. A therapeutic
composition of the mangosteen fruit pulp and pericarp mixture was prepared
according to the embodiments described herein. Each subject ingested 3 ounces
of the beverage daily for a three week period. The following qualitative
results
were obtained:
Example 1
The subject was a 62-year-old female suffering from chronic back pain,
nausea and chronic vertigo. Prior to the study, the pack pain was treated with
oral doses of morphine three times a day. After a regiment of the mangosteen
nutraceutical composition, the subject experienced improved energy, less
nausea
and a decrease in the vertigo symptoms.
Example 2
The subject was a 56-year-old male suffering from chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, muscle aches, fatigue and dysthemia. After a regiment of
the
mangosteen nutraceutical composition, the subject experienced improvement in
mood, energy and muscle aches in the shoulders and back.
Example 3
The subject was a 55-year-old male suffering from irritable bowel
syndrome. After a regiment of the mangosteen nutraceutical composition, the
subject experienced regularization of bowel movements.
Example 4
The subject was a 30-year-old male suffering from chronic neck pain,
familial hyperlipidemia, fatigue and insomnia. After a regiment of the
mangosteen nutraceutical composition, the subject experienced improved energy
and a decrease in low-density lipoproteins.
Example 5
The subject was a 52-year-old male suffering from hypokelemia, fatigue
and weight gain. After a regiment of the mangosteen nutraceutical composition,
the subject experienced improved energy and a normalization of potassium
levels.
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Example 6
The subject was a 63-year-old female suffering from degenerative
arthritis, C-difficile colitis, fatigue, decreased appetite hypolcelemia, and
numbness of the fingers and toes. After a regiment of the mangosteen
nutraceutical composition, the subject experienced improvement in colitis,
reduction of pain in wrists and hands and a normalization of potassium levels.
Example 7
The subject was a 66-year-old male suffering from a severe allergy
reaction causing desquamation of palms, ftngers, soles of feet and the inside
of
the mouth and esophagus. After a regiment of the mangosteen nutraceutical
composition, the subject was completely cured.
Example 8
The subject was a 57-year-old male suffering from malaise, muscle aches,
hepatitis, glomerionephritis, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. After a regiment of
the
mangosteen nutraceutical composition, the subject experienced a 30-point
decrease in low-density lipoproteins, a 10-point increase in high-density
lipoproteins, improved energy, a 14-pound weight loss and the malaise was
eliminated.
Example 9 ,
The subject was a 30-year-old male suffering from a chronic dermal rash.
After a regiment of the mangosteen nutraceutical composition, the rash was
completely eliminated.
Example 10
The subject was a 25-year-old female suffering from low energy levels.
After a regiment of the mangosteen nutraceutical composition, the subject
experienced increased energy.
Example 11
The subject was a 28-year-old female suffering from extreme fatigue and
depression. After a regiment of the mangosteen nutraceutical composition, the
subject experienced a significant increase in energy.
Example 12
The subject was a 26-year-old female suffering from irritable bowel
syndrome. After a regiment of the mangosteen nutraceutical composition, the
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subject experienced a decrease in cramping and stool frequency and increased
energy.
Exam lie 13
The subject was a 32-year-old male marathon runner and iron man
competitor. After a regiment of the mangosteen nutraceutical composition, the
subject experienced increased energy levels.
Example 14
The subject was a 70-year-old female suffering from severe arthritis.
After a regiment of the mangosteen nutraceutical composition, the subject
experienced complete elimination of arthritic symptoms and increased energy.
The present invention may be embodied in other speciftc forms without
departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described
embodiments
are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.
The
scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather
than
by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and
range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
